Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nollywood actor‑turned‑politician has reacted to a pre‑litigation letter from Peter Obi’s lawyers demanding a retraction, an apology, and damages of N5 billion over allegations that NDC leaders demanded bribes from House of Representatives aspirants. Okonkwo described the move as an attempt at extortion and warned that any legal action could force him to divulge confidential information he acquired while serving as Obi’s campaign spokesperson.
The dispute traces back to Monday, June 8, 2026, when Okonkwo appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme. According to a letter written by Obi’s legal team led by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Okonkwo made several statements that the former Anambra governor considers defamatory. The letter alleged that Okonkwo claimed Obi and other NDC leaders in the South‑East demanded that House of Representatives aspirants pay a bribe of N10 million in addition to the party’s prescribed expression of interest fees. Okonkwo was also accused of stating that there was documentary evidence of the payments, that Obi personally compiled the party’s candidate list from a hotel room in Abuja, and that aspirants were warned that Obi would “scam” them. Obi’s lawyers further alleged that Okonkwo accused the presidential candidate of collecting money from individuals abroad and of being involved in criminal activities alongside other party leaders.
In the letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyers demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements in their entirety within seven days, issue an “unequivocal and unreserved” public apology, pay N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages, and provide a written undertaking to refrain from making any further defamatory statements. The letter warned that failure to comply would trigger a lawsuit seeking higher damages, injunctive reliefs, and the full cost of litigation.
Okonkwo responded on Wednesday, June 10, through a series of posts on his X handle. He dismissed the legal threat, suggesting that Obi was only looking for campaign funds ahead of the 2027 election. “It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his Lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!” Okonkwo wrote. “If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him.” He recalled that as a spokesperson he had sometimes paid for his own flight tickets and hotel accommodation during campaign activities.
More significantly, Okonkwo issued a sharp warning: “Let me sound this note of warning, the Lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone. My principle is that I do not use any confidential information I share with anyone against the person except the person who becomes unintelligent enough to tow the line of foolishness.” He added that suing a former spokesperson for defamation is “indeed very unwise”.
In a direct challenge to Obi and his legal team, Okonkwo dared them to proceed with the case. “It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his Lawyers if they do not take this case to court. I don’t have time or patience for scammers.”
To back his original allegations, Okonkwo later on Wednesday released what he described as evidence. He shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC aspirant for a House of Representatives ticket in Anambra State. In the chats, Ohaegbu expressed frustration over the party’s candidate selection process, questioning how a list of candidates could have been produced without any consultation with aspirants. “If no consensus meeting was held with the aspirants in Anambra State, and no agreement was reached amongst those seeking nomination, my brother Ken, how did your friend arrive at the list of candidates that he allegedly produced at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja?” Ohaegbu wrote. Okonkwo quoted Ohaegbu as saying that when he confronted the party leadership about who authorised the N10 million payment, the party named Peter Obi and the caucus leaders assembled by Obi.
Ohaegbu has since denied in a separate television interview that Obi personally demanded any bribe from him. He explained that he paid N10 million into an NDC bank account based on information from the party’s national secretary, not from Obi.
The breakdown of the former allies comes after months of political realignment. Okonkwo, who served as a spokesperson for Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign under the Labour Party, has since defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and is now aligned with the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 elections. He has repeatedly criticized Obi’s leadership choices and political stability.
As of Wednesday evening, the seven‑day ultimatum issued by Obi’s lawyers remains active. Okonkwo has said he will reply formally to the letter after he has read it. The deadline for compliance expires on June 16, 2026. If no settlement is reached, the case could become a major courtroom confrontation, testing whether a former campaign spokesperson can be sued for defamation without triggering the disclosure of confidential campaign information.
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